St Michael & All Angels Church, Welshampton
Brief History
The village of Welshampton is located in the northern part of the peaceful North Shropshire countryside between the historic market towns of Whitchurch and Ellesmere. Over the years the village has changed gradually from a thriving homestead for the farming community to a pleasant and characterful Shropshire village. At the heart of all this stands the church of St Michael and All Angels - one of the most notable features of the village. With its 'round house' gable and beautiful lychgate, the church was described at its consecration in 1863 as "one of the prettiest ecclesiastical architecture of which this or any other country can boast". High praise indeed!
The African Prince
Many villages possess their individual stock of old-world stories but how many can boast of a link with South Africa that dates back to the 1860s. The story commences in Lesotho, formerly known as Basutoland, and features one of the outstanding characters of South Africa, Moshesh I, also known as Moshueshue. He was unique among African leaders at the time for preserving the independence of his people in the face of constant pressure from the neighbouring Boer republics. He taught his people how to use the rifle and to ride so that they could resist the Boer, although finally he had to seek protection from Britain.
Later in 1850, Moshueshue requested Bishop Gray, the first Bishop of Capetown, to send missionaries to his land. This eventually led to two of Moshueshu's sons being educated at the Anglican school, Zonnebloem, in Capetown. One of the sons, Jeremiah Libopuoa Moshueshue was converted and baptised. By 1861 enough money had been raised by the Hereford Missionary Society to send four of Zonnebloem's most promising pupils to St Augustine's College, Canterbury, which had been founded in 1844 to provide training for missionary priests. The vicar of Welshampton at the time, the Revd Buckely-Owen was a supporter of African work and following a meeting with Bishop Gray, an invitation was extended to two of the African students, Jeremiah and Samuel Lefulere Moroka, to come and stay in Welshampton for the consecration of the new church.
The visit was to have an unhappy consequence for Jeremiah, whose own health had been delicate whilst in England. He developed gastric fever and despite all attempts to save him, died on 26th August 1863. It was decided to bury him in the village churchyard, beside the new church. Eventually a memorial window (depicting St Philip baptising the Ethiopian Eunuch), was placed in the church overlooking the font in the NW corner of the church, the corner closest to the grave. In recent years royal entourages and civic dignitaries of Lesotho have made pilgrimages to the grave, the last of which took place in May 1999, with the visit of the Queen Mother of Lesotho, Queen Mamohato.
Main Activities
Mother's Union
Members of Welshampton Mother's Union usually meet on the second
Wednesday of the month at Welshampton village hall. They enjoy a wide
variety of activities ranging from entertaining speakers to outings and
musical get togethers. Traditionally the Mother's Union has always been
has been very active in the life of the church, always on hand to
present a card of welcome at Baptism services. In more recent years
they have developed their links with children and young families by
going into the local Church school to help the children plant daffodil
bulbs in time for Mothering Sunday. In 2003 members of the Mother's
Union took part in Lichfield Cathedral's millennium project -
embroidering a design to represent the church on a Tapestry Cushion, to
be displayed in the cathedral itself. New members are always welcome at
any of the meetings.
Operation Canalotto
In April 2005 David Skipper walked 176 miles from Milton Keynes to Welshampton to raise funds to help secure the future of this beautiful church. For more information please click here.
For a map showing the location of this church, please click here.
